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IAN HUTCHINSON, Special to QMI Agency

Jul 4, 2012

, Last Updated: 4:37 PM ET

After his top-four finish at last year’s RBC Canadian Open at Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., is among four players from formerly Nationwide Tour to earn an exemption into this year’s Open.

Hadwin, who was low Canadian the past two years at the Open, joins Matt McQuillan of Kingston, Richard Scott of Kingsville, Ont., and Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont., at this year’s event at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Scott, a three-time Canadian Amateur champion, finished third at the United Leasing Championship on Sunday to vault from 48th on the Tour’s money list to 27th.

Fritsch is 36th, Hadwin is 50th on that money list while McQuillan is 229th after four events. He also plays the PGA Tour, where he’s taken part in seven events so far this season.

Andrew Parr of London, Ont., who has been competing on the European and South African Tours has also received an exemption, as has Vancouver’s Eugene Wong, who recently turned professional after an outstanding collegiate career at Oregon.

Toronto’s Albin Choi, the 2010 Canadian Amateur champ, also received an exemption.

Canadians who had already earned exemptions include 2011 Canadian Amateur champ Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Mid-Amateur champion Rob Couture of Trenton, Ont., and Brian McCann of Mississauga, Ont., for finishing on top of the PGA of Canada player rankings.

Greg Doherty of Mississauga earned an exemption by winning a regional qualifier last week at Kings Forest in Hamilton.

Mike Weir has also received an exemption to bring to 15 the number of Canadians playing in the Open.